ence of Erasmus. Mr. Cox regrets the absence of the materials necessary to form a correct estimate of the gradual progress of Melancthon's mind, from the obscurity of his original views, and the errors of his education, to that soundness of faith and enlargement of religious knowledge, which he afterwards attained. We have not at present the leisure, nor indeed the space requisite for this inquiry; but we should certainly have expected that a close investigation of the works, correspondence, and memorials of Melancthon, would afford at least some hints for the illustration of this important period of his moral and intellectual experience. His residence at Tubingen was limited to the term of six years; and at the early age of twenty-one, in August, 1518, he was appointed to the Greek Professorship in the university of Wittemberg.

Upon the fourth day after his arrival at Wittemberg he com. menced his public duties as a Professor in the customary mode of delivering an oration, which attracted an unusual degree of applause. Luther is lavish in his commendations, and in a letter addressed té Spalatine he says that it was inconceivably learned and elegant, and excited such universal admiration, that every one forgot the comparative meanness of Melancthon's personal appearance. In consequence of his settlement at Wittemberg, immense numbers crowded to the university, and his audience sometimes amounted to fifteen, and even five and twenty hundred persons. He had the honour of being Luther's instructor in the Greek language.

• It is amusing enough to hear the terms in which M. Baillet mentions the intimacy which from this moment commenced between Melancthon and Luther. 66 Being called to Wittemberg," says he, "in the twenty-second year of his age, Melancthon fell into the hands of Luther, who abused his easy disposition, and availed himself of all those fine talents which ought to have been devoted to the service of the Catholic church!"' p. 32.

The age in which Melancthon appeared, was remarkable for intellectual activity. The systems of the ancient and modern schools, were subjected to severe examination; and although in the rejection of what appeared useless or injurious, there might be too little discrimination exercised, yet, on the whole, the result was eminently favourable to the cause of philosophy and religious truth. Luther's bold and intrepid spirit threw off at once and altogether the trammels of Aristotle and the schools; but Melancthon's calmer judgement laid them under profitable contribution.

Melancthon was considered in the German schools in the light of a COMMON PRECEPTOR. Uniting the study of the Aristotelian philosophy with ancient learning in general, the plan which he adopted was to extract out of Aristotle all that was essentially good, to illustrate it by the aids of literature and genuine criticism, and to adapt it to the principles of true religion. Nor did he follow Aristotle

implicitly; whatever was valuable in the writings or doctrines of the Stoics and Platonics, and whatever his own genius suggested, was incorporated into his system.

The plan was pursued in most of the German academies under the sanction both of the civil and ecclesiastical authorities, and from its first promoter was denominated the Philippic method.' pp. 50-51.

His academic career was brilliant and popular. While his main attention was directed to the highest objects, he did not neglect to unfold to his crowded auditories' the rich sources of classical knowledge; and Luther, whom he instructed in the Greek language, speaks in raptures of his deep and various learning. We shall refrain from making any reference to that peculiar period of Melancthon's life, at which he seems to have taken up clear and decided views and resolutions respecting the great controversy which then agitated the public mind. It would not be possible to trace his conduct and convictions, without blending much of the history of that portion of the Reformation, which is most generally and familiarly known. In the year 1520, he married Catharine Crappin, a pious and amiable

woman.

His matrimonial connection was not only a happy, but a very lasting one. Formed for each other, this favoured pair were not destined to suffer the pangs of early separation; but lived, so far as can be ascertained, in undisturbed harmony for thirty-seven years. They had four children, two sons and two daughters. Of the former little or nothing is known. It seems probable they died in early life.' p. 136.

Anne, the eldest daughter, who is described as handsome and accomplished,' married George Sabinus; and the younger was, in 1550, united to the celebrated Casper Peucer. The most remarkable feature in the character of Melancthon, his gentleness and sweetness of disposition, was very strikingly exemplified in his domestic arrangements, for it formed a part of them never to refuse an applicant, and all those who sought an interview either on business or from curiosity, enjoyed free access.'. At the same time, we are a little mortified at the contents of a note which seems to accuse him of slovenliness. The politic imprisonment of Luther in the castle of Wartenberg, placed Melancthon in very trying circumstances; his timidity and constitutional hypochondriacism rendered him altogether unfit to occupy the post of leader, while his wisdom and integrity made him an admirable second. His indecision was strongly contrasted with the firmness and promptness of Luther in the case of the Anabaptists. When they conversed with Melancthon, he doubted and hesitated; but in their very first interview with Luther, he addressed them in

the language of Scripture: "The Lord rebuke thee, Satan." We have not room to enter into the details of the Antinomian and Sacramental controversies, of which Mr. Cox has given a clear, though somewhat superficial history. The following passage shews in so strong a light Luther's affectionate feelings towards Melancthon, and his high and just estimate of his worth, that we shall extract it, though it is not particularly illustrative of any point immediately in question.

In the present year Luther wrote a preface to the second edition of Melancthon's Commentary on the Epistle to the Colossians. He speaks of it as a book small in size, but great in point of matter and useful tendency, and affirms, with extraordinary frankness, that he preferred the writings of Melancthon to his own, and was much more desirous that they should be published and read. "I," says he," am born to be for ever fighting with opponents, and with the devil himself, which gives a controversial and warlike cast to all my works. I clear the ground of stumps and trees, root up thorns and briars, fill up ditches, raise causeways, and smooth the roads through the wood: but to Philip Melancthon it belongs, by the grace of God, to perform a milder and more grateful labour-to build, to plant, to sow, to water, to please by elegance and taste. O happy circumstance, and shame to their ingratitude, who are not sensible of it! Had such a publication as this appeared twenty years ago, what an invaluable treasure would it have been esteemed! But now we resemble the Israelites, who loathed the manna, and sighed for the garlic and the onions of Egypt. A time will come when the loss of such advantages will be deplored in vain." p. 256.

The most active and brilliant period of Melancthon's life, was during the year 1530, when he was called upon to defend the Protestant cause, before the Diet of Augsburg. He was put forward by his own party, as the ablest among a host of able men ; and he appears, on the whole, to have acquitted himself admirably. So completely did he keep his temper, that the Papists thought him continually on the point of giving way; and so firmly did he maintain his ground, that they were not able, either by fraud or force, to bear him back from a single important point. Instead of putting himself under the necessity of abridg ing the Augustan Confession, in consequence of printing it in large type, and in the body of the work, we think that Mr. Cox would have done well had he inserted it entire in the Appendix.

It is reported of William, Duke of Bavaria, who vehemently opposed the doctrine of the gospel, that as soon as the confession was read, he asked Eckius whether they might overthrow this doctrine out of the Holy Scriptures. "No," replied Eckius, "No," replied Eckius, " by the Holy Scriptures we cannot overthrow it, but we may by the fathers." Upon which Cardinal Albert, archbishop of Mentz, said to the Duke of Bavaria, “Behold how finely our divines support us! The Pro

testants prove what they say out of the Holy Scriptures, but we have our doctrine without Scripture.' p. 327.

6

It is said, that during the Imperial Diet of Augsburg, Albert, Archbishop of Mentz, had by some means obtained a Bible, and read it attentively for four hours, when one of his council suddenly entering his chamber, asked, with much astonishment, what his Highness was doing with that book? To which he replied, "I know not what this book is, but sure I am, all that is written therein is quite against us.' p. 343.

It will not be possible for us even partially to recapitulate the various concerns which exercised the attention, the skill, and the temper of Melancthon. He had a double task to perform, for the impetuosity of Luther frequently marred the work which seemed to be in progress towards amicable adjustment; and the lover of peace must have frequently had the utmost difficulty to preserve, unbroken, the link of amity, which bound him to his turbulent associate. In 1535, Francis I. of France, with an earnestness of which we greatly suspect the sincerity, pressed Melancthon to visit him; and Henry VIIIth, with motives not more pure, testified yet greater anxiety for an interview; but neither of the invitations was complied with. The principal object of Henry seems to have been to procure the sanction of the Wittemberg divines to the divorce of the Queen Catharine.' In this, however, he was disappointed, for their opinion was decidedly in opposition to his desire. We wish Mr. Cox had not, to use a parliamentary phrase, blinked the question, on the subject of Melanethon's conduct, in a similar, but far more embarrassing dilemma, when a different individual referred the same point to him for decision. It seems that the Landgrave of Hesse, a strenuous partisan of the Reformation, found one wife insufficient, and threw out something like menaces, to induce Luther and Melancthon to allow him to keep two. If we may trust Bossuet, the only authority to which we can, at the present moment, refer, their conduct was timeserving and disingenuous in the extreme. We observe, however, that the Bishop, who is not always quite worthy of confidence, refers to Varillas, a writer proverbially apocryphal. This affair so agitated the mind of Melancthon, as to endanger his life.

Being in consequence of this indisposition detained at Vinaria, he experienced the kindest attentions from the Elector and his friends, who immediately sent for George Sturciad, a physician of Erfurt, to whom he was peculiarly attached. Luther also hastened to his friend; and his cheering presence contributed not a little to aid the powers of medicine in producing his convalescence. As he had previously felt a deep persuasion that he should die, he had written his will, and deposited it with Cruciger; and on his way, while

crossing the Elbe, he suddenly uttered what happily proved an unfounded prediction.

"Viximus in Synodis et jam moriemur in illis."

In councils we have lived, in councils now shall die.

The interesting account written by Solomon Glass, and preserved amongst the original manuscripts of the German princes, shall be presented to the English reader. "When Luther arrived, he found Melancthon apparently dying. His eyes were dim, his understanding almost gone, his tongue faultering, his hearing imperfect, his countenance fallen, incapable of distinguishing any one, and indisposed to all nourishment. At such a sight Luther was in the most terrible consternation, and turning to those who had accompanied him in his journey, exclaimed, "Alas, that the devil should have thus unstrung so fine an instrument!' Then, in a supplicating posture, he devoutly prayed, We implore thee, O Lord our God; we cast all our burdens on thee, and WILL CRY TILL THOU HEAREST us, pleading all the promises which can be found in the Holy Scripture respecting thy hearing prayer, so that THOU MUST INDEED HEAR Us, to preserve at all future periods our entire confidence in thine own promises.'

Af

ter this he seized hold of Melanctbon's hand, and well knowing the extreme anxiety of his mind, and the troubled state of his conscience, said, Be of good courage, Philip, YOU SHALL NOT DIE: although God has always a sufficient reason for removing us hence, he willeth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live; it is his delight to impart life, not to inflict death. God has received into his favour the greatest sinners that ever existed in the world, namely, Adam and Eve, much more will he not cast thee off, my dear Philip, or permit thee to perish in grief and guilt. Do not therefore give way to this miserable dejection and destroy thyself, but trust in the Lord, who can remove it, and impart new life.' While he thus spake, Melancthon began visibly to revive, as though his spirit came again, and was shortly restored to his usual health.'

'After his recovery, Melancthon wrote thus to Camerarius:" I cannot express the pain I have suffered during my illness, some returns of which I often feel. I witnessed at that period the deep sympathy of Luther, but he restrained his anxieties, that he might not increase mine, endeavouring to raise me from my desponding state of mind, not only by admitting kind consolation, but salutary reproof. If he had not come to me, I should certainly have died."

p. 406.

At the Diet of Ratisbon, Melancthon bore a conspicuous part, and in 1543, was deputed to Cologne, to assist the Archbishop in the reformation of his diocese.' This ecclesiastical sovereign, who is represented by Bossuet as a man of consummate ignorance, seems to have been deficient only in the knowledge of the Latin and Greek languages. He was well read in his vernacular literature, and, in the present instance, appears to have exercised a sound discretion, to have exhibited every mark of a vigorous and disciplined mind. The death of Luther, in 1546, at a most critical season, when the dangers which threat